Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Oftentimes in debates between non-believers and Christians you will hearthis statement: The majority of Americans are Christian. Christians useit to argue one shouldn't find a particular religious doctrine offensive whena majority of people agree with their beliefs. Non-believers might use it to saythey are being silenced by a much louder majority and/or also for furtherevidence that America is "too religious." I would like to the dispell the myth ofthe "evangelical Christian majority."

It's true that about 80 percent of Americans classify themselves as Christians. But Iwant to argue that traditional, evangelical (whatever you want to call it) Christianityis by no way mainstream. A Barna study done a few years ago found that only4 percent prescribe to a biblical worldview. There's a lack of biblical knowledgeeven in our churches. Tons of media attention is given to the Creation vs. Evolutiondebate. This poll shows only 38 percent favor replacing evolution with creationism.Thirty-eight is not a majority! Another factor is church attendance. Only about 40percent of Americans tend a religious service weekly. Again, no majority there. TheBible teaches to abstain from sex until marriage. Yet, 95 percent of adult Americans engage in pre-marital sex. I'm by no means that saying that people who engage inpre-marital sex and agree with evolution are not Christians. What I'm saying is whenone argues the majority of Americans are Christian they are neglecting to mention thewaning influence Christianity has in our lives and society.

This is why I believe so many Christians get involved in politics. Christians see adeclining role of religion in our lives but politics takes center stage in America,especially in a era where everything is politicized. Therefore, many evangelicalChristians get involved in politics to make our voices and presence known. Theirony is this involvement in politics makes Christianity less appealing. Also, with thestatistics I gave earlier I think it's absurd when people argue that America is turningto some sort of theocracy, we are far from it.

There's a reason why evangelical Christians have made our own sub-culture with ourown terminology (Christianese), music, etc. It's not because we want to isolate ourselvesfrom the rest of society. It's because we often feel ignored by the rest of societythat views our beliefs as archaic and often stereotyped as the "nutty Bible-thumpers."So, that is why I believe the "evangelical Christian majority" is a myth. If anything,I think I'm part of a religious minority.